Car repairs question.

[Mayfriday0529]

I need some advice on what repairs I should do on my car with a budget of 500$

I drive a 2002 Nissan Sentra with now 70k miles on it. I had it for almost two years now and besides oil changes every 3000 miles I have changed the tires recently also had a transmission oil change last year and couple of times change the air filter.

I really think it needs some type of good tune up because it takes a very long time to speed up specially getting into the parkway and it seems to also waste a lot of gas. Before I got the car I don?t really know how maintenance it got.

It also has a small issue that when its cold the accelerator pedal gets stuck sometimes. The few first times you press it on it, it will feel hard and you have either press really hard and then you get this big bump because you gave it to much or you need to take your foot of it and then press again and it unlocks and its all good, after a few minutes problem goes away.

One more thing is that it?s a little bumpy.

Also should i take it to dealer or local place.

UPDATE 4-14-05
So i finally took it to my repair guy, honest guy but takes like three days for stuff.
I told him to do a Tune up, check my breaks, do my state inspection and check my accelerator pedal problem that gets locked sometimes. I told him that the car doesnt feel like it speeds up very well.

He called me today to report and he said he could not find anything wrong with the engine, air filter is ok, he order the spark plugs and cables are ok. The accelerator problem he said the cable that controls that is bad but is waiting for it to arrive, very hard to find he said. He did some work on my front breaks but other than that he could not find anything wrong that would cause it not speed up fast, but maybe he said the fuel pump is wearing out, at 70,000 miles very possible he said.

Cool guy also, he will give me the car tonight and told me to bring it back monday, by then the rest of the parts will be in.

Edit: i still like to know how to make it be faster, for a 2002 car it acts really old that even older cars pass me on the highway.

 

[K1052]

Whatever you do don?t take it to the dealer.

Find a local place that you trust. Ask some friends.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: K1052
Whatever you do don?t take it to the dealer.

Find a local place that you trust. Ask some friends.

Yeah i have this great guy but i have to drop it off and leave it there for at least 3 days.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: K1052
Whatever you do don?t take it to the dealer.

Find a local place that you trust. Ask some friends.

 

[olds]

Local place.

 

Get a general tune up and see if a place around you has one of thoes pressurized engine washer things, to remove the carbon build up.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Sounds like you need a minor tuneup and have your throttle body checked and possibly cleaned.
My roommates Camry would do something similar, the throttlebody was all gummed up, once it was cleaned he hasnt had any problems with it.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
I need some advice on what repairs I should do on my car with a budget of 500$

I drive a 2002 Nissan Sentra with now 70k miles on it. I had it for almost two years now and besides oil changes every 3000 miles I have changed the tires recently also had a transmission oil change last year and couple of times change the air filter.

I really think it needs some type of good tune up because it takes a very long time to speed up specially getting into the parkway and it seems to also waste a lot of gas. Before I got the car I don?t really know how maintenance it got.

It also has a small issue that when its cold the accelerator pedal gets stuck sometimes. The few first times you press it on it, it will feel hard and you have either press really hard and then you get this big bump because you gave it to much or you need to take your foot of it and then press again and it unlocks and its all good, after a few minutes problem goes away.

One more thing is that it?s a little bumpy.

Also should i take it to dealer or local place.

Parkway sounds so British or something.

Try doing a lot of it yourself. You will save $$$$. Fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs are all pretty easy things to do.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
I need some advice on what repairs I should do on my car with a budget of 500$

I drive a 2002 Nissan Sentra with now 70k miles on it. I had it for almost two years now and besides oil changes every 3000 miles I have changed the tires recently also had a transmission oil change last year and couple of times change the air filter.

I really think it needs some type of good tune up because it takes a very long time to speed up specially getting into the parkway and it seems to also waste a lot of gas. Before I got the car I don?t really know how maintenance it got.

It also has a small issue that when its cold the accelerator pedal gets stuck sometimes. The few first times you press it on it, it will feel hard and you have either press really hard and then you get this big bump because you gave it to much or you need to take your foot of it and then press again and it unlocks and its all good, after a few minutes problem goes away.

One more thing is that it?s a little bumpy.

Also should i take it to dealer or local place.

Parkway sounds so British or something.

Try doing a lot of it yourself. You will save $$$$. Fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs are all pretty easy things to do.

Fuel filter.



Tom

 

[LS20]

uh..take it to a dealer

but, if you havent replaced or atleast checked these parts for wear, you will need to:
air filter (definately replace)
spark plugs (rplc)
spark plug wires (check)
distributor cap & rotor
o2 sensor (if you get poor mileage after replacing spark plugs & filter)
replace fuel filter - cheap
check condition of all the belts.. they should be ok
clean the throttle body with TB cleaner... cheap and easy

have mechanic check the timing and idle .. unless you have your own timing light

your brake pads might need replacing... check em... they're cheap, too


most, if not all, of those things above you can do on your own

 

[StageLeft]

Don't take it to a stealership. If you don't want to do anything yourself, go private as mentioned above.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: LS20
uh..take it to a dealer

but, if you havent replaced or atleast checked these parts for wear, you will need to:
air filter (definately replace)
spark plugs (rplc)
spark plug wires (check)
distributor cap & rotor
o2 sensor (if you get poor mileage after replacing spark plugs & filter)
replace fuel filter - cheap
check condition of all the belts.. they should be ok
clean the throttle body with TB cleaner... cheap and easy

have mechanic check the timing and idle .. unless you have your own timing light

your brake pads might need replacing... check em... they're cheap, too


most, if not all, of those things above you can do on your own

I'm not Auto Savvy, my grandfather thought me a few things when i was younger but most of that stuff is gone now, i also don't the space to lift the car up to change things or change oil and stuff. If i had a garage i would venture more into that stuff.

Hell i don't even know where the sparks plugs are in my car the engine design is much different from what older cars look like with the cables right on top of the engine.

Originally posted by: DainBramaged


Parkway sounds so British or something.

In Ny they are called Parkways or if you want freeway.

 

[redly]

cables are on top because that is where the spark plugs are on an inline 4 cyl (like you have)

 

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

Usually they replace plugs, wires and the distro cap. Check most of your sensors. Check all the belts. Check brake pads, rotors, calipurs and most of the time brake lines. Clean the throttle body. Replace air and fuel filters. Check the fluids on the tranny and differentials. Check coolant fluid.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

Usually they replace plugs, wires and the distro cap. Check most of your sensors. Check all the belts. Check brake pads, rotors, calipurs and most of the time brake lines. Clean the throttle body. Replace air and fuel filters. Check the fluids on the tranny and differentials. Check coolant fluid.

What is an average cost for all of that?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

Waste of money.

Get a can of seafoam. Follow directions. Carbon clean. costs about $4. once you do this, get 4 new spark plugs. If you're plug wires have any cracks or look crappy, replace them.
change the pcv valve. Beyond that you're golden. Nissan engine run timing chains and should be good for 90-100K miles if not longer depending on wear.
And if you haven't you should get the brake pads/shoes replaced.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: LS20
uh..take it to a dealer

but, if you havent replaced or atleast checked these parts for wear, you will need to:
air filter (definately replace)
spark plugs (rplc)
spark plug wires (check)
distributor cap & rotor
o2 sensor (if you get poor mileage after replacing spark plugs & filter)
replace fuel filter - cheap
check condition of all the belts.. they should be ok
clean the throttle body with TB cleaner... cheap and easy

have mechanic check the timing and idle .. unless you have your own timing light

your brake pads might need replacing... check em... they're cheap, too


most, if not all, of those things above you can do on your own

I'm pretty sure he has the GA18DE. No distributor.

 

[funboy6942]

Not fuel filter because it would starve for fuel when floored and die out. I would say check your throttle body and intake and see if a animal has made its home in there restricting the air flow. If not your exhaust cat may be clogged which would give you poor gas milage, pick up, power, etc.

To check this take a rag and have some one give the car some gas and see if your exhaust is flowing out good or if you can feel anything at all coming out. Also take the rag or your foot and while your buddy gives the car gas plug the exhaust tip and see if the car will die right away. But with that many miles I say its just going to be a throttle cable and a new exhaust cat. Tune up wouldnt hurt either but thats would be later.

Cat-$100
Cable do it yourself $35-$50 Dealership-$100+

EDIT: If it turns out to be your cat most new cars exhaust or polution equipment is covered for 7 years or 75,ooo miles or longer so it may not cost you a thing if it does turn out to be your cat. If it is check your manual and see. It will have a break down of what all is covered and for how long (restraints, emmisions, rust through, and so on). Just because your buumper to bumper is out alot of other parts are still covered. How do I know??? Ex Dealership service manger thats how I know

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

Waste of money.

Get a can of seafoam. Follow directions. Carbon clean. costs about $4. once you do this, get 4 new spark plugs. If you're plug wires have any cracks or look crappy, replace them.
change the pcv valve. Beyond that you're golden. Nissan engine run timing chains and should be good for 90-100K miles if not longer depending on wear.
And if you haven't you should get the brake pads/shoes replaced.

Thanks for the advice, i'll take a look to see in my engine where the spark plugs are and take a look at the cables and see if i got the stuff to change them. also i will check that seafoam advice also.

 

[funboy6942]

A pressure wash isnt goping to do anything but if you have an electrical problem or dont know what your get wet will screw up your car more.

If you baby the car thats bad because carbon build up BUILDS up in the engine itself not the outside. If you do baby it and never treat her bad you better take it out and spank the bitch around for a bit. Floor it several times (within the law) and see the black smoke pouring out your exhaust that will be carbon. That builds up on the valves, pistons, pluges, and after time can build up bad enough that the car will pre-det and your engine could ping, tick or miss. Sometimes the build up on the valves can be so bad that they do not shut properly and will have an engine miss.

Not miss treating your car 2-3 times a month can do more damage to it.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

UPDATE 4-14-05
So i finally took it to my repair guy, honest guy but takes like three days for stuff.
I told him to do a Tune up, check my breaks, do my state inspection and check my accelerator pedal problem that gets locked sometimes. I told him that the car doesnt feel like it speeds up very well.

He called me today to report and he said he could not find anything wrong with the engine, air filter is ok, he order the spark plugs and cables are ok. The accelerator problem he said the cable that controls that is bad but is waiting for it to arrive, very hard to find he said. He did some work on my front breaks but other than that he could not find anything wrong that would cause it not speed up fast, but maybe he said the fuel pump is wearing out, at 70,000 miles very possible he said.

Cool guy also, he will give me the car tonight and told me to bring it back monday, by then the rest of the parts will be in.

Edit: i still like to know how to make it be faster, for a 2002 car it acts really old that even older cars pass me on the highway.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
What does a tune up consist of? I'm probably guessing the spark plugs are old and need replaced.

Sampson: that pressurized engine washer i will ask about it.

Waste of money.

Get a can of seafoam. Follow directions. Carbon clean. costs about $4. once you do this, get 4 new spark plugs. If you're plug wires have any cracks or look crappy, replace them.
change the pcv valve. Beyond that you're golden. Nissan engine run timing chains and should be good for 90-100K miles if not longer depending on wear.
And if you haven't you should get the brake pads/shoes replaced.

Timing chains are good for the life of the engine.
What is the purpose of switching to a chain that has a life of "90-100k" miles when a belt does 60-100k?

My mom's '94 Nissan Quest, changed timing belt at 90k miles and ONLY because the water pump went. The belt itself was still good.

My '96 Nissan Sentra, 150k miles and have not changed the chain yet.